DrakeEQ vs APOD Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DrakeEQ
Explore the possibility of extraterrestrial life with a visually stunning calculator based on the Drake Equation. This app allows you to manipulate the equation's parameters and visualize galaxies in motion, offering an educational and entertaining experience.
- Drake Equation calculator
- Interactive 7 parameter manipulation
- Beautiful 3D galaxy visualizations
- Galaxene Galaxy Engine
- Educational and entertaining simulator
- Universe exploration
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Are we alone? We created DrakeEQ to provide a visually elegant answer to the extraterrestrial question, using the intellectually elegant Drake Equation. We coupled this fun calculator with beautiful, 3D galaxies in motion! To help us celebrate 15 years since the first release in 2009, DrakeEQ 7.0.0 now features our Galaxene Galaxy Engine! Use this fun simulator to graphically quantify the number of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations in our Milky Way Galaxy. Travel the Universe and explore infinitely variable galaxies! Just pinch anywhere and tap the targeting indicator. Perform thought experiments with this unique visual tool; it’s both educational and entertaining. Learn about the famous Drake Equation through direct manipulation of its 7 parameters with DrakeEQ. The Drake Equation states that: N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible where: R* = the average rate of star formation in our galaxy fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets fℓ = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point fi = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space L = the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space. Drake Equation. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
APOD Explorer
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Every day, NASA publishes a new astronomy picture or video, with an explanation written by a professional astronomer. APOD Explorer brings it to you with an experience built for exploring the universe, not just looking at it. THE FULL ARCHIVE SINCE 1995 Over 11,000 photos and videos, from the very first APOD to today. Full-text search across titles and explanations, curated tag collections (galaxies, nebulae, eclipses, Earth from space, and many more), and an "On This Day" section showing what was published on this date across the years. READINGS TAILORED TO YOU, ON DEVICE With Apple Intelligence, every explanation can be generated at different reading levels: quick, general, for kids, or for experts. NASA's original explanation can also be translated right on your device — nothing is sent to any server. FAVORITES THAT SYNC Save the photos you love and access them from any of your devices through iCloud. No one else can see them. WIDGETS AND LOCK SCREEN Two widgets — "Picture of the Day" and "Today's Sky" — that refresh themselves every morning, on the Lock Screen too. SHARE WHAT YOU DISCOVER Share the photo or, when the day's APOD is a video, a poster generated from it, straight from the detail view or from the widgets extension. NO ACCOUNTS, NO ADS, NO TRACKING APOD Explorer doesn't require sign-up and doesn't show ads. If you enjoy the app, you can leave a voluntary tip from Settings — a gesture of support that never unlocks features. A daily window into the universe, with NASA's complete archive always in your pocket.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: APOD Explorer at Free against DrakeEQ's $0.99. APOD Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 5 months). DrakeEQ's advantage is iOS requirement (17.5 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
APOD Explorer is free to download; DrakeEQ costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DrakeEQ ships an update every 5 months, APOD Explorer every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DrakeEQ | APOD Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.7 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Onomaly LLC | Diego Carrera Alonso |
In-app purchases
DrakeEQ
No in-app purchases
APOD Explorer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DrakeEQ free?
Is APOD Explorer free?
Do DrakeEQ or APOD Explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, DrakeEQ or APOD Explorer?
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